Sunday, July 17, 2011

'Ketchup And Mustard' Rose, New for 2012

The Weeks portrait of the new rose 'Ketchup & Mustard' is gorgeous, but for decision making, it's always better to see a real life garden snapshot of a new rose, always better to judge by flowers grown in less pampered conditions, instead of by the vendor's beauty shots. Roger's had a single plant of 'Ketchup & Mustard' on display, so I took a couple of photos.

The flowers were on the small side, around 2.5" (6 cm), but there were plenty of them. The foliage happened to be quite chlorotic, but clean of disease--though I know Roger's keeps their stock sprayed--at least I think they do, because I recognize the distinctive odor of fungicide when walking around the rose area.

This was a potted rose in an area of concrete and light gravel in full sun, meaning plenty of reflected light and heat, even though Roger's is close to the coast. Therefore it was no wonder the red had a lighter value than that claimed by the Weeks website. The yellow reverse was apparent, though a little merged in with red.

You cannot judge a rose completely by seeing it in a pot at the nursery where it's been sitting on concrete in full sun any more than by seeing the vendor's beauty shot. The reality is somewhere in between. Most of the time, a rose in a pot on concrete won't be like it will be in the ground at your house--it will be better in the ground. The little plant at Roger's had plenty of flowers, which may indicate good productivity. I'd also say place it in afternoon shade for best color, the farther inland your garden is located.

I thought these red-and-yellow Anigozanthos might make an interesting companion to the rose:

As to the name 'Ketchup & Mustard'...how sad that everything in our culture must bellow for attention. A rose must have an outlandish name, a woman must have an augmented chest and skin frozen by toxins, a report on politics must have conflict and sensationalism and people screaming at each other.

4 comments:

I like your sense of humor, which is something in this world of excessive everything that helps us cope with oddly named roses, hordes of aphids, and outsized thorns. Ketchup and Mustard is a conversation piece, but unfortunately only for its name to me. Try Perfect Moment for a gorgeous red and yellow hybrid tea. But I applaud the breeders for their creativity and patience which supplies we anxious gardeners with ever new schemes and dreams.